'CORRECT' OUTCOME OF KOBAYASHI MARU?

[Timo]

One has to consider, though, that if the scenario is fundamentally unrealistic (say, in terms of enemy forces present), then the skipper cannot be expected to do complex decisions such as ponder the political implications, because those would no doubt be unrealistic as well.

One may take the scenario as a simple combat game, in which the starship is forced to engage the enemy on some flimsy pretext (such as an impossible rescue mission) and the instructors then study how the crew performs during a hopeless fight. In that case, the students must enter the NZ - if they don't, they will be ordered to. Or one may take the scenario as a decisionmaking test, in which case refusing to go in would certainly have to be an option.

If the test is based on a completely realistic scenario (and the enemy laying three-to-one traps against Starfleet ships is quite realistic), then the student might engage in complex thinking. Perhaps he or she will enter, and then perform a series of actions that will embarrass the Klingons so much that they dare not declare war afterwards - a sure way to earn extra points, even if she or he fails to survive or rescue the transport. Or perhaps it is possible for our heroes to learn that the emergency was faked and never worth a rescue mission, and the smart ones do that before the Klingons trap them. That is, they don't just say "This smells, and regulations forbid us from acting anyway, so let the passengers die", they find a way to prove that the passengers are already dead, or are in no real danger, or that there's an ambush ahead and a message exposing the ambush and demanding that they rescue the ship would neatly solve the whole problem, or make it somebody else's problem.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[SilentP]

I'd say that it's likely that there are more variations to the test than just the 'rescue transport from hostile aliens' (I don't mean just change the alien species that the ship is being rescued from). The Star Trek Online website has good examples of (fan-submitted) scenario ideas that don't necessarily involve combat, but do involve making the 'hard' choice in a difficult scenario.

Whether these are all taken as separate tests, or command cadets just take the test once, but the details of the test are randomised at the beginning, so the cadets taking the course have no idea what they'll actually face. This would help them, in that, even if older cadets who have taken it blabber what happened when they took the test to the younger ones, they still won't get the same one. Even the knowledge that it's a random test, that they might never know when they might be taking it, can help, since it'll have the cadets constantly mentally preparing for any scenario, and what lengths and possible measures could always be subconciously considered.

 

[Lazarus]

Surely it is! Starfleet is an agency of the state, and exists to serve its citizens. It is the Federation's military. Its job is to defend civilian life from hostile foreign powers. If its members are unwilling to sacrifice their lives to defend Federation civilians, then Starfleet does not deserve to exist.

Saying that Starfleet vessels are not obligated to be willing to sacrifice themselves to save Federation civilian lives is like saying that U.S. Naval vessels don't have a similar obligation. Well, if they don't, what the hell is the point of having a navy?

But sacrifice themselves in a futile endeavour? Sacrifice a Starfleet ship and its entire crew to try and save a civilian vessel from overwhelming hostile forces? Do you really think that's the case?

I personally don't.

In the same way that firefighters are not under an obligation to enter a building that is about to collapse in order to rescue people. Some may chose to do so but if the building in question is on the verge of collapsing and killing everyone inside, the firefighters are not under an obligation to enter. I would imagine that they are actively DISCOURAGED from doing so.

After all there is attempting to rescue people and then there is getting yourself killed for no reason.

You mention the US Navy, but again if a civilian vessel was surrounded by, lets say five hostile warships, do you propose that a single US warship is UNDER AN OBLIGATION to steam into the area and attack the overwhelmingly superior force in order to rescue the civilians? I honestly can not see that that is the case.

 

[childofdarkness]

Agreed. The test seems largely to measure personal behavior codes. Kirk sort of opted out of the original purpose of the test in a way which made it almost irrelevant for Fleet's original purposes. But I laud his initiative. Maybe that's actually part of the test too - to see when or if anyone will break the mold enough to defeat the test in that way.

 

[Sci]

Surely it is! Starfleet is an agency of the state, and exists to serve its citizens. It is the Federation's military. Its job is to defend civilian life from hostile foreign powers. If its members are unwilling to sacrifice their lives to defend Federation civilians, then Starfleet does not deserve to exist.

Saying that Starfleet vessels are not obligated to be willing to sacrifice themselves to save Federation civilian lives is like saying that U.S. Naval vessels don't have a similar obligation. Well, if they don't, what the hell is the point of having a navy?

But sacrifice themselves in a futile endeavour? Sacrifice a Starfleet ship and its entire crew to try and save a civilian vessel from overwhelming hostile forces? Do you really think that's the case?

I personally don't.

In the same way that firefighters are not under an obligation to enter a building that is about to collapse in order to rescue people. Some may chose to do so but if the building in question is on the verge of collapsing and killing everyone inside, the firefighters are not under an obligation to enter. I would imagine that they are actively DISCOURAGED from doing so.

After all there is attempting to rescue people and then there is getting yourself killed for no reason.

You mention the US Navy, but again if a civilian vessel was surrounded by, lets say five hostile warships, do you propose that a single US warship is UNDER AN OBLIGATION to steam into the area and attack the overwhelmingly superior force in order to rescue the civilians? I honestly can not see that that is the case.

Again, you're forgetting that in the scenario, it is not known that the ship is doomed to die. They move in on the basis of information that does not indicate that the ship will be doomed if it attempts a rescue.

As for whether or not regulations require Starfleet to render assistance if the CO knows that his ship will be destroyed? Hard to say. I would imagine it depends on whether or not there's a reasonable chance of the civilian ship being saved by the Starfleet ship's sacrifice. And, yes, I imagine that if there is a reasonable chance that entering the situation will save the civilian ship, regulations require a Starfleet vessel be ready to sacrifice itself and its crew.

 

[Myasishchev]

Surely it is! Starfleet is an agency of the state, and exists to serve its citizens. It is the Federation's military. Its job is to defend civilian life from hostile foreign powers. If its members are unwilling to sacrifice their lives to defend Federation civilians, then Starfleet does not deserve to exist.

Saying that Starfleet vessels are not obligated to be willing to sacrifice themselves to save Federation civilian lives is like saying that U.S. Naval vessels don't have a similar obligation. Well, if they don't, what the hell is the point of having a navy?

To kill Soviet SSBNs. To kill Soviets with SSBNs. Maybe to defend military traffic to West Germany.

Nowadays, to continue to present the world's most credible deterrent, and to prevent enemy navies or pirates from choking our maritime commerce, and to protect and project land power against Third World countries, and perhaps to prevent the PRC from invading the RoC, a scenario that looks more and more unlikely as time marches on.

I don't personally think it's to go and violate territorial waters when the sovereign is a power actually capable of severely damaging us. We would rely on the comity of nations and the customary international law regarding shipwreck survivors. If the Klingons aren't into the whole "law" thing, well, maybe our citizens shouldn't have ventured into a lawless land. Indeed, I deeply suspect that the Kobayashi Maru was in violation of the law itself...

If the Klings offer no assistance, I feel sorry for the civilians, but dying has to be a contemplated risk during space travel. If the Klings have actively harmed the Kobayashi, then it is an act of barbarism if not war, and should be dealt with in a prepared manner, with instructions from the highest level, not some freebooting captain with a single ship. At best, it should be dealt with in a proper forum for arbitration. At worst, Kronos should be glassed.

Finally, I'd like to point out that even a freebooting captain cannot, by definition, have the authority act unlawfully. And unless the Federation is truly the most dualistic system I've ever seen, a starship captain is bound even more tightly by his nation's treaties (like this KNZ treaty) as he is the Prime Directive.

Entering the KNZ should be automatic grounds for dismissal from the Academy, or at least failure of the test.

Remember Korean Air Flight 007? If we had any carriers in the area, and we were aware of 007's dire straits, would it have been legal--or even wise!--to have sent in F-14s to penetrate Soviet airspace, shoot down the Soviet aircraft attempting to intercept and destroy the Boeing?

Edit: worse, do you think the captain of a CV should have been able to make that kind of decision?

Gosh, I don't.

 

[Shawnster]

See, that's the sticky thing with the Neutral Zone. If it's so neutral, then BOTH sides should be able to enter it. On the other hand, if it's so neutral, then NEITHER side should be able to enter it.

Why is it the Romulans and the Klingons get to play in the Neutral Zone of their choice yet the Federation isn't even allowed to look at it?

Is there an automatic assumption that crossing into the Neutral Zone means you'll be attacked and destroyed? As stated, it's not sovereign territory, it's neutral territory. There is a good chance that there are no enemy ships in the area and rescue is quite possible.

On screen dialog does establish there was a Neutral Zone between Federation and Klingon space in TOS (at least by the time of the movies).

Sherman's Planet was a disputed planet located near the Federation-Klingon border, in an area first mapped by astronomer John Burke in 2067. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
Following the Federation-Klingon War in 2267, and per terms of the Organian Peace Treaty, ownership of Sherman's Planet could be assumed by the side that could most effectively develop it. The Federation's intentions for Sherman's Planet were to use it to cultivate quadrotriticale, a grain well adapted to the planet's climate. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")
The Federation succeeded in best developing Sherman's Planet. However, by 2269, the planet had been struck by famine. On Stardate 5392.4, the USS Enterprise, under Captain James T. Kirk, was assigned to escort two robot ships hauling an improved grain, quintotriticale, to the planet to alleviate the plight. (TAS: "More Tribbles, More Troubles")
Sherman's Planet also appeared in the star chart Data and Picard were studying in stellar cartography in 2371. (Star Trek Generations)

So, according to the Organian Peace Treaty there was an area along the border between both Klingon and Federation space that was open to equal development by either side. Far from being a neutral "no man's land" this area was feely open to both sides, as indicated by Commander Koloth's demand for Station K-7 to provide liberty for his crew.

One prominent example of a neutral zone was the Romulan Neutral Zone established between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Empire in the 2160s. (TOS: "Balance of Terror") A neutral zone also existed with the Klingon Empire by 2285, referred to by the Klingons as the Federation Neutral Zone. In 2267, development of Nimbus III began in the Neutral Zone. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier) This neutral zone was violated by Commander Kruge in 2285. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
USS Saratoga was patrolling near the Neutral Zone in 2286. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
A simulated neutral zone, appearing as a small oval area of space, defended by Klingon cruisers, was a part of the simulated Kobayashi Maru scenario. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
When Captain Hikaru Sulu offered assistance to the Klingon High Command following the destruction of Praxis, he was told by Brigadier General Kerla that their assistance was not required and to "obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the Neutral Zone." The neutral zone was again mentioned during the beginning of negotiations between the Klingon Empire and the Federation which led to the Khitomer Accords. Klingon Chancellor Gorkon proposed a peace treaty that would include dismantling of space stations and star bases along the neutral zone. On Rura Penthe, Kirk confessed that he was terrified of the idea, that there would be no more neutral zone. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

From Star Trek II onward the films regularly indicated a Neutral Zone between Klingon and Federation space. This could have been established by a later treaty but, as indicated above, it's implied this is the Organian Peace Treaty that established the zone.


In one of Diane Carey's novels the Kobyashi Maru featured Romulans instead of Klingons. This does make more sense. 1. TOS definitely established a neutral zone between Romulan and Federation space. 2. The Kobyashi Maru was in Gamma Hydra Section 10. Gamma Hydra was established in TOS "The Deadly Years" to be near Romulan space. 3. At the time of Star Trek II we the audience only knew of Romulans having cloaking devices - how could Klingon ships be undetectable to a Starfleet vessel?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Kobayashi Maru outcomes (Film/Novels)

Mackenzie Calhoun (Novel): Destroyed the freighter.
David Forrester (Game): Reprogrammed the simulator similar to Captain Kirk's changes.
James T. Kirk (Film): Reprogrammed the simulator so the Klingons would lose shields/power.
James T. Kirk (Novel): Reprogrammed the simulator so the Klingons would be afraid of him.
Peter Kirk (Novel): Challenged the Klingon Captain to a ritual duel so his ship could warp away with the Kobayashi Maru survivors.
Nog (Novel): Means unknown.
Quentin Stone (Novel): Means unknown.

Doesn't that nauseating 'Mary Sue'-type "Piper" also win the scenario? AFAIK, she uses her tricorder to mess with the simulator's computer system or something like that. (Either she wins, or the simulator crashes, I can't remember which.)

 

[Sci]

See, that's the sticky thing with the Neutral Zone. If it's so neutral, then BOTH sides should be able to enter it. On the other hand, if it's so neutral, then NEITHER side should be able to enter it.

Why is it the Romulans and the Klingons get to play in the Neutral Zone of their choice yet the Federation isn't even allowed to look at it?

Is there an automatic assumption that crossing into the Neutral Zone means you'll be attacked and destroyed? As stated, it's not sovereign territory, it's neutral territory. There is a good chance that there are no enemy ships in the area and rescue is quite possible.

On screen dialog does establish there was a Neutral Zone between Federation and Klingon space in TOS (at least by the time of the movies).

Sherman's Planet was a disputed planet located near the Federation-Klingon border, in an area first mapped by astronomer John Burke in 2067. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")
Following the Federation-Klingon War in 2267, and per terms of the Organian Peace Treaty, ownership of Sherman's Planet could be assumed by the side that could most effectively develop it. The Federation's intentions for Sherman's Planet were to use it to cultivate quadrotriticale, a grain well adapted to the planet's climate. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")
The Federation succeeded in best developing Sherman's Planet. However, by 2269, the planet had been struck by famine. On Stardate 5392.4, the USS Enterprise, under Captain James T. Kirk, was assigned to escort two robot ships hauling an improved grain, quintotriticale, to the planet to alleviate the plight. (TAS: "More Tribbles, More Troubles")
Sherman's Planet also appeared in the star chart Data and Picard were studying in stellar cartography in 2371. (Star Trek Generations)

So, according to the Organian Peace Treaty there was an area along the border between both Klingon and Federation space that was open to equal development by either side. Far from being a neutral "no man's land" this area was feely open to both sides, as indicated by Commander Koloth's demand for Station K-7 to provide liberty for his crew.

One prominent example of a neutral zone was the Romulan Neutral Zone established between the United Federation of Planets and the Romulan Empire in the 2160s. (TOS: "Balance of Terror") A neutral zone also existed with the Klingon Empire by 2285, referred to by the Klingons as the Federation Neutral Zone. In 2267, development of Nimbus III began in the Neutral Zone. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier) This neutral zone was violated by Commander Kruge in 2285. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
USS Saratoga was patrolling near the Neutral Zone in 2286. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
A simulated neutral zone, appearing as a small oval area of space, defended by Klingon cruisers, was a part of the simulated Kobayashi Maru scenario. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
When Captain Hikaru Sulu offered assistance to the Klingon High Command following the destruction of Praxis, he was told by Brigadier General Kerla that their assistance was not required and to "obey treaty stipulations and remain outside the Neutral Zone." The neutral zone was again mentioned during the beginning of negotiations between the Klingon Empire and the Federation which led to the Khitomer Accords. Klingon Chancellor Gorkon proposed a peace treaty that would include dismantling of space stations and star bases along the neutral zone. On Rura Penthe, Kirk confessed that he was terrified of the idea, that there would be no more neutral zone. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

From Star Trek II onward the films regularly indicated a Neutral Zone between Klingon and Federation space. This could have been established by a later treaty but, as indicated above, it's implied this is the Organian Peace Treaty that established the zone.

That's an excellent point, that we need to check our assumptions about the Klingon-Federation Neutral Zone (KFNZ). We've all been operating on the assumption that the treaties outlining the terms for the KFNZ are the same as those for the Romulan-Federation Neutral Zone (RFNZ). But what if the treaties establishing the KFNZ specifically allow both sides to enter the KFNZ to render humanitarian assistance to their own people, for instance? Or to render humanitarian aid to the other side unless directed otherwise by that side's government? Or under other specific circumstances?

Surely it is! Starfleet is an agency of the state, and exists to serve its citizens. It is the Federation's military. Its job is to defend civilian life from hostile foreign powers. If its members are unwilling to sacrifice their lives to defend Federation civilians, then Starfleet does not deserve to exist.

Saying that Starfleet vessels are not obligated to be willing to sacrifice themselves to save Federation civilian lives is like saying that U.S. Naval vessels don't have a similar obligation. Well, if they don't, what the hell is the point of having a navy?

<SNIP>

I don't personally think it's to go and violate territorial waters when the sovereign is a power actually capable of severely damaging us.

But entering the KFNZ isn't entering their territory. It's entering neutral space -- neutral space which Klingon ships have already entered to attack a harmless civilian ship that had gone off-course accidently. Surely if anyone can reasonably be accused of initiating hostilities, it's the Klingons.

If the Klingons aren't into the whole "law" thing, well, maybe our citizens shouldn't have ventured into a lawless land. Indeed, I deeply suspect that the Kobayashi Maru was in violation of the law itself...

The KFNZ was created by and regulated under interstellar treaty. Obviously the Klingons are as into interstellar law as the Federation.

If the Klings have actively harmed the Kobayashi, then it is an act of barbarism if not war, and should be dealt with in a prepared manner, with instructions from the highest level, not some freebooting captain with a single ship.

Ideally, that's true. Heck, you'd probably want to get the Federation President to issue the order to enter the KFNZ if possible. But as Star Trek likes to remind us, sometimes ships have to make emergency calls and don't have enough time to wait to hear from Command.

At best, it should be dealt with in a proper forum for arbitration. At worst, Kronos should be glassed.

I'm reasonably certain that Federation law would forbid an act of genocide such as glassing Qo'noS.

Remember Korean Air Flight 007? If we had any carriers in the area, and we were aware of 007's dire straits, would it have been legal--or even wise!--to have sent in F-14s to penetrate Soviet airspace, shoot down the Soviet aircraft attempting to intercept and destroy the Boeing?

In Soviet airspace? No. But if Flight 007 had been above international waters and outside Soviet airspace at the time? Yes.

Edit: worse, do you think the captain of a CV should have been able to make that kind of decision?

Gosh, I don't.

Not these days -- U.S. Naval vessels are obviously equipped with sufficiently advanced communications technology that the decision can be made by the President and the order issued from the Situation Room.

But in the past, when real-time communication was not possible across the planet, that was the sort of decision often left to ship's captains. Star Trek, in that regard, is at least in part based on the premises of Horatio Hornblower rather than Tom Clancy -- ships that are out of range of Headquarters having to make decisions on their own.

In any event, I do want to make one thing clear:

A number of posters seemed to be suggesting that a Starfleet vessel, on principle, should never be required to sacrifice itself to save civilians if it is so necessary. They seemed to be arguing this on the basis of the idea of the equal worth of a Starfleet vs. civilian crew, irrelevant of other factors such as whether or not a larger war can result. Setting aside the question of other mitigating circumstances, I strongly disagree with the idea that a Starfleet crew does not have a duty to sacrifice itself if doing so is necessary to save civilian lives.. Joining the military means deliberately devaluing your life compared to civilians, means being willing to sacrifice yourself to save a civilian.

 

[T'Girl]

I wonder how much of a surprise the kobayashi maru emergency is to a cadet whos in the simulator. In one of the many stories that mention the no win senario, it was stated that the name of the ship changed with each cadet, Kirk decided to reuse the name with Saavik.The cadet could of been in the simulator numerious times, handling different problems, including other rescues. When the kobayashi maru emergency arrives, the cadet might have been in the simuator for hours.

I believe that the cadets go after the fuel carrier because it is policy to do so. Both Federation and Star Fleet. It goes to the modern military concept of not leaving anyone behind.

There is no chance of success.
Tow the carrier out with a tractor beam, the tractor beam fails
Beam the passagers and crew off, enemy fire damages the transporters.
Destroy enemy ships, more arrive.
Shuttlecraft are picked off.
Hard dock, won't work.

Instuctors and techs are present in a nearby control room, if a cadet came up with something new the senario would be altered.
The cadet will fail.

Remember Korean Air Flight 007? If we had any carriers in the area, and we were aware of 007's dire straits, would it have been legal--or even wise!--to have sent in F-14s to penetrate Soviet airspace, shoot down the Soviet aircraft attempting to intercept and destroy the Boeing?

In Soviet airspace? No. But if Flight 007 had been above international waters and outside Soviet airspace at the time? Yes.

While the aircraft had passed over Sakhalin island, it was shot down over the sea of Japan. The 007 incident is the prime reason civilians have access to the global positioning system, original it was to be military only.


T'Girl

 

[Timo]

I'd say that it's likely that there are more variations to the test than just the 'rescue transport from hostile aliens' (I don't mean just change the alien species that the ship is being rescued from).

I wonder how much of a surprise the kobayashi maru emergency is to a cadet whos in the simulator. In one of the many stories that mention the no win senario, it was stated that the name of the ship changed with each cadet, Kirk decided to reuse the name with Saavik.

To be sure, when the idea of the scenario was introduced in ST2, it was not considered the Kobayashi Maru scenario in any categorial sense. The official name for the test that everybody took was "the no-win scenario". The test that Kirk and Saavik took was the Kobayashi Maru scenario specifically - and yes, I agree that Kirk probably chose that particular scenario for nostalgic reasons, perhaps to celebrate his birthday.

It may well be that there exists a Kobayashi Maru scenario with the given specifics, or slight variations - and then a wide range of other no-win scenarios that do not involve Neutral Zones or ships in distress. That would be sufficient to keep the cadets and other trainees on their toes, so that they wouldn't go all "Groan, here it comes..." when they hear the name Kobayashi Maru.

I believe that the cadets go after the fuel carrier because it is policy to do so. Both Federation and Star Fleet. It goes to the modern military concept of not leaving anyone behind.

I'm not sure it continues to be a policy in the future, though - certainly not one to outweigh all other considerations. Captain Pike in "The Cage" ignores a distress call he justly considers hopeless. Captain Harriman ignores another when he feels there are others who could better deal with it. Surely a testee would be justified in determining that it would be the Klingons' job to rescue the distressed ship, or that a joint rescue mission should be performed.

Incidentally, I wonder if the Klingon Neutral Zone really was all that neutral back in those days. From ST4 onwards at least, the Klingons seem to think they are at war with the Federation, even if it's not fought very actively. A declared state of war might have existed back in ST2 as well - or perhaps throughout the shared history of the UFP and the KE, right until Khitomer. Neutrality of the Zone would then be a matter of tactical convenience and specific truce deals, or perhaps a mere historic remnant...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[T'Girl]

The only neutral zone on earth I can remember was one on the boarder between Iraq and Saudi, the interesting thing was it wasn't along the entire boarder, just a sixty odd mile section out in the middle of the desert. Maybe the Klingon NZ isn't everywhere the two spaces touchs, just one spot.

That was the oval shape on the main viewer, the small KNZ.

 

[siskokid888]

Kobayashi Maru outcomes (Film/Novels)

Mackenzie Calhoun (Novel): Destroyed the freighter.
David Forrester (Game): Reprogrammed the simulator similar to Captain Kirk's changes.
James T. Kirk (Film): Reprogrammed the simulator so the Klingons would lose shields/power.
James T. Kirk (Novel): Reprogrammed the simulator so the Klingons would be afraid of him.
Peter Kirk (Novel): Challenged the Klingon Captain to a ritual duel so his ship could warp away with the Kobayashi Maru survivors.
Nog (Novel): Means unknown.
Quentin Stone (Novel): Means unknown.

Doesn't that nauseating 'Mary Sue'-type "Piper" also win the scenario? AFAIK, she uses her tricorder to mess with the simulator's computer system or something like that. (Either she wins, or the simulator crashes, I can't remember which.)

Also, in the aforementioned novel Kobayashi Maru,

Spoiler

Sulu does not enter the zone and leaves the ship to the Klingons.

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

To be sure, when the idea of the scenario was introduced in ST2, it was not considered the Kobayashi Maru scenario in any categorial sense. The official name for the test that everybody took was "the no-win scenario". The test that Kirk and Saavik took was the Kobayashi Maru scenario specifically - and yes, I agree that Kirk probably chose that particular scenario for nostalgic reasons, perhaps to celebrate his birthday.

It may well be that there exists a Kobayashi Maru scenario with the given specifics, or slight variations - and then a wide range of other no-win scenarios that do not involve Neutral Zones or ships in distress. That would be sufficient to keep the cadets and other trainees on their toes, so that they wouldn't go all "Groan, here it comes..." when they hear the name Kobayashi Maru.

If I were to make a guess, I'd say that the ship name itself varies from simulation to simulation, but that Kirk's method of dealing with the Kobayashi Maru eventually made that the unofficial name for the test, probably tossed around by the older cadets - 'Kirk beat the Kobayashi Maru test,' or such. Because you're right, if it's always the no-win scenario, always saying that the freighter Kobayashi Maru is in need of assistance, that's going to affect how the cadets react to it - they know that the simulation's going to end in their 'deaths,' they're going to react differently - 'I know it's the no-win scenario, that nothing I do matters, but if it happens in real life, I CAN win the day.'

 

[captcalhoun]

in my fan-fic, my lead beats the test by moving in and putting the transport inside his ship's shield bubble so he can keep beaming passengers aboard after the Cardassians show up, then tractors the transport, moves relatively upwards, out of the line of fire of the four Galors, (causing one to be fratricided.) then flees in a relative horizontal direction, ditching the transport as he does once all the survivors are aboard and happily one of the Galors slams straight into it and he then executes a warp jump.

key point is, he remembers space is 3D and evades the Cardies weapons fire...

 

[137th Gebirg]

This is how I would do the KM:
1) Wait for the Klingons to get a firing solution.
2) As they were launching torpedoes, do a flash-warp "Picard Maneuver" to the immediate center of the Klingon formation. Torpedoes are already out and were fixed on your initial position. It will take time for them to reload.
3) Quickly drop shields and Beam 3 antimatter containment bottles simultaneously in the path of each of the enemy ships (this would involve already having them disconnected prior to engagement). If you're flying a Connie or Miranda, you should have plenty left over. Immediately raise shields after completion of beaming. You might take some flak from close-range point-defense disruptors for a few seconds, but not a big deal.
4) Instantly do another flash-warp to the coordinates of the KM.
5a) If it was a trap and the KM doesn't exist -or- was destroyed by the Klingons, make a hasty exit back across the neutral zone.
5b) If it's still there, extend the shields around it, protecting it from the 3 antimatter blasts from step 3. This also has the added benefit of being able to beam survivors out without dropping shields.
6) If the Klingons actually survived the explosions, they should be disabled/blinded enough to either head home unchallenged or mop up on the way back.

It admittedly involves some "dirty tricks" and not very "Starfleet", but I suspect any cadet who ran a scenario like this might likely get the moniker "Captain Blood" from his/her fellow peers.

 

[Vanyel]

in my fan-fic, my lead beats the test by moving in and putting the transport inside his ship's shield bubble so he can keep beaming passengers aboard after the Cardassians show up, then tractors the transport, moves relatively upwards, out of the line of fire of the four Galors, (causing one to be fratricided.) then flees in a relative horizontal direction, ditching the transport as he does once all the survivors are aboard and happily one of the Galors slams straight into it and he then executes a warp jump.

key point is, he remembers space is 3D and evades the Cardies weapons fire...

This is how I would do the KM:
1) Wait for the Klingons to get a firing solution.
2) As they were launching torpedoes, do a flash-warp "Picard Maneuver" to the immediate center of the Klingon formation. Torpedoes are already out and were fixed on your initial position. It will take time for them to reload.
3) Quickly drop shields and Beam 3 antimatter containment bottles simultaneously in the path of each of the enemy ships (this would involve already having them disconnected prior to engagement). If you're flying a Connie or Miranda, you should have plenty left over. Immediately raise shields after completion of beaming. You might take some flak from close-range point-defense disruptors for a few seconds, but not a big deal.
4) Instantly do another flash-warp to the coordinates of the KM.
5a) If it was a trap and the KM doesn't exist -or- was destroyed by the Klingons, make a hasty exit back across the neutral zone.
5b) If it's still there, extend the shields around it, protecting it from the 3 antimatter blasts from step 3. This also has the added benefit of being able to beam survivors out without dropping shields.
6) If the Klingons actually survived the explosions, they should be disabled/blinded enough to either head home unchallenged or mop up on the way back.

It admittedly involves some "dirty tricks" and not very "Starfleet", but I suspect any cadet who ran a scenario like this might likely get the moniker "Captain Blood" from his/her fellow peers.

The only major problem I can see in these, is extending the shields to protect the KM. Extended shields are not able to handle the punishment that they were designed to. (TNG: The Defector, VOY: Think Tank).

I also agree with what others have proposed, the program continues to change to prevent the Cadet from winning. For example, Peter Kirk's challenge to the Klingon CO could be rebuffed by saying the challenge is only binding between Klingons.

Any technological surprise that the Cadet may have would fail or the Klingons would get off a "lucky" shot, disabling the ship, or other Klingon ships would de-cloak (uncloak?).

In Gebirg's idea I could see the computer altering the outcome by making the explosions enough to damage his own vessel or the Klingon point defense disrupters hitting a crucial power junction and knocking out warp drive and/or the shields.

As for captcalhoun idea, I could see the computer allowing one or more of the Galors to knock his shields off line and disable his vessel, knowing the KM would be no match for them, the Galor's could pound away until BOOM! One less Starfleet ship.

From what is implied in TWoK, the enemy ships do get lucky shots in almost every time. The computer cheats. With their 1st shot, the Klingons disable the main energizer forcing the use of emergency power. The 2nd shot brought down the shields. Weapons were down after the 3rd shot and with the 4th they were "dead in space."

No matter what the computer wins...unless you reprogram it.

 

[kes7]

This thread inspired me to go make a list of how my fanfic characters approached the no-win test. Fun stuff, you guys have so many interesting thoughts on this!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Peter Kirk's challenge to the Klingon CO could be rebuffed by saying the challenge is only binding between Klingons.

Actually I believe by the time Peter got to it, the Romulans were the enemy. And he issued the challenge such that the simulator computer was unable to keep up with it - it didn't have time to develop a suitable response to Peter's challenge (the voice of the transporter operator, for example, was generated on-the-fly by the computer, as no one had ever gotten far enough to actually get the chance to USE the transporter).

 

[Vanyel]

Peter Kirk's challenge to the Klingon CO could be rebuffed by saying the challenge is only binding between Klingons.

Actually I believe by the time Peter got to it, the Romulans were the enemy. And he issued the challenge such that the simulator computer was unable to keep up with it - it didn't have time to develop a suitable response to Peter's challenge (the voice of the transporter operator, for example, was generated on-the-fly by the computer, as no one had ever gotten far enough to actually get the chance to USE the transporter).

Okay. However I do find it...odd, that the computer would be that slow. My nephew's PS3 games would seem to be much faster.